Family brunch done right at WAVE

By Alena Murguia

Contributor

With two people in the house who won't eat eggs, brunch is
always a challenge. But, at WAVE restaurant in the W Chicago, we
found its "Nourish" brunch menu brimming with eggless options, not
to mention creatively re-imagined breakfast standards, including a
house-made Pop Tart.

Actually, to call Chef Subido's flaky, delicious pastry a
Pop Tart is to do it a great disservice, but that's what the menu
says. We started with a sampling of pear and cherry tarts and found
them fantastic. My 5-year-old declared the pear tart "way better
than the ones in the box."

My 8-year-old chose a straightforward fried egg with hash
browns, which were very flavorful with peppers and onions. My sons
also loved the short stack of pancakes, served with house-made
maple-butter. I opted for a goat cheese, mushroom and spinach
frittata, which was rich and delicious, certainly an unusually
decadent start to my Sunday. With all the fresh menu options plus
daily specials, my husband had a hard time deciding but finally
went with Chicken & Waffles, which arrived big enough to
fulfill brunch's promise of breakfast and lunch.

In addition to the great food, WAVE offers a beautiful
setting. Large windows overlook Lake Michigan while mirrored
columns reflect the light. The décor is both modern and
comfortable. Instead of traditional booths, customers are seated on
large couches with numerous pillows and bolsters, which my sons got
a kick out of rearranging.

Menu prices are quite reasonable, especially considering
the lakefront location. Brunch entrees are priced from $7 for
buttermilk biscuits and gravy to $14 for a grilled skirt steak
sandwich. Fresh pastries and a la carte extras round out the
options for under $5. You can quench your thirst with a variety of
fresh squeezed juices such as orange grapefruit or carrot
apple.

Attentive and knowledgeable service, combined with a
casual brunch atmosphere, make this hip city spot easy for
families.

Nourish is available at WAVE from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays
and Sundays.

Alena Murguia lives in Berwyn, Illinois along with her husband and three growing sons.